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Minefield Marathoners Watch Their Step

About 150 U.S. soldiers ran 26.2 carefully checked miles around Bagram air base, Afghanistan, in a Minefield Marathon.

The winner, 2nd Lt. Raymond Youngs, 25, said: "It was a great way to relax and do something normal. Of course, nothing you end up doing around here is really that normal."

The course passed shredded jets, mines and other explosives. Sentries and helicopters watched for trouble. Signs and barbed wire marked areas that were not clear of mines -- one of which sounded the start in lieu of a pistol.